Variable feed for strip material to a flying cutter



A J. SARKA 3,054,315

RIP MATERIAL TO A FLYING CUTTER Sept. 18, 1962 VARIABLE FEED FOR ST 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1958 INVENTOR Albert J. Surku 1 3 m7! AK? m J! J J Fm BREW-l EMF nl IM 1 W kw E m l||\ mm JmJ Ev at-w A N a v t g 1 3 h, I /.f\ 1 mm g NA d :IH i I A I Sept. 18, 1962 Filed March 3. 1958 Fig.2.

A J. SARKA VARIABLE FEED FOR STRIP MATERIAL TO A FLYING CUTTER A J. SARKA Sept. 18, 1962 VARIABLE FEED FOR STRIP MATERIAL TO A FLYING CUTTER Filed March 3. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Albert J. Surku A J. SARKA 3,05 VARIABLE FEED FOR STRIP MATERIAL To A FLYING CUTTER Sept. 18, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 3. 1958 lNVENTOR 7 Albert J. Surku 7/III/III1 3,054,315 Patented Sept. 18, 1962 3,054,315 VARIABLE FEED FOR STRIP MATERIAL TO A FLYING CUTTER Albert J. Sarka, Maple Heights, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Wean Engineering Company, Inc. Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,656 8 Claims. (Cl. 83-323) This invention relates to apparatus for treating moving material in strip like form and particularly to an apparatus for variably feeding the length of strip to be treated. For purposes of explanation and illustration, the invention will be described as embodied in a punch press, although it may be similarly embodied in a flying shear, stamping machine or any similar strip treating mechanism.

One of the problems in treating high speed strip has been the problem of regulating the precise length of strip to be treated. Conventional methods of strip feeding have not been entirely satisfactory. Ordinary methods of feeding tend to cause the strip to pile up or to be drawn too tightly at the treating machine because of the inability to closely regulate the length of feed. Moreover, most, if not all, of the mechanisms heretofore proposed have been expensive, complex and require highly skilled personnel to operate and maintain them.

The strip treating mechanism of the present invention provides a simple solution to the problems of feeding precise lengths of strip to be treated. The invention provides a first work member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path on one side of a path of strip travel, a guide extending generally transversely of the path of strip level mounted to move with the first member, a second work member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the path of strip travel generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the path of strip travel simultaneously with the first member to engage and act on the strip, first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage the strip during substantially one half of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is moved with said members to be advanced along the path of strip travel, crank means spaced from the guide, connections between the crank means and the guide whereby the crank means may be rotated by said guide, second gripper means actuated by the crank means for reciprocatory motion along the path of strip travel and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a tension less than that of the first gripper means and adjusting means between the crank and the second gripper member adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance strip along the path of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip. Preferably the second gripper means is mounted for reciprocation on ways parallel to the path of strip travel.

While I have set out certain advantages, purposes and objects of this invention in the foregoing general description, other purposes, objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a general arrangement of a treating mechanism according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the treating mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of nism of FIGURES 1 and 2;

the treating mecha- FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the gripper assembly attached to the work platens of the mechanism; and

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line VV of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a housing having a base 11 and side members 12. A pair of parallel shafts 13 and 14 are journaled for rotation adjacent the top and bottom of the side member 12, vertically one above the other. Each of these shafts is provided with eccentric earns 15 adjacent the side members 1'2. A floating frame made up of side frames 16 mounted for rotation on the earns 15 and spacer members (not shown) is provided between the side members 12 of the housing. A top press die 17 is fixed between the side frames 16 below the upper shaft 13 to travel with the side frame. Each side frame 16 is provided with a ver tical slot 18 within which a lower press die 19 is vertically reciprocable. The lower press die 19 is pivotally mounted on the end of vertical arms 20 which are in turn pivoted on the lower shaft 14 alongside the eccentric earns 15. The two shafts 13 and 14 are driven by suitable means such as a motor (not shown) acting through a drive pinion (not shown) and identical gears (not shown) on the shafts 13 and 14.

An upper gripper member 21 is mounted on the top press die 17. This gripper member is made up of a vertically adjustable frame 22 fixed on the die 17. An air cylinder 23 is mounted on frame 22. The piston rod 24 of the air cylinder is connected to a vertically movable rod 25 mounted slidably in bushings 26 in frame 22. The rod 25 is connected to the piston rod '24 of the air cylinder by means of an adjusting nut 27. A shoe 28 is mounted on the rod 25 at the end opposite adjusting nut 27. A bracket 29 is fixed to the lower press die 19. The bracket 29 carries a rod 30 threaded for vertical movement in a hub 31 fixed to the bracket 29. The rod 30 is in vertical alignment with rod 25 and is provided with an elongated shoe 32 and friction pad 33. The shoe 32 is provided with depending vertical guides 34 slidable in bushings 35 in the bracket 29. The shoe 32 and pad 33 lie on opposite sides of the strip pass line from shoe 28 and are adapted to engage the strip on opposite sides thereof.

A drive arm 36 is fixed to the side frame 16 and extends rearwardly thereof to a crank pin 37 on shaft 38, to drive the shaft 38 for rotation in unison with the rotation of frame 16. The shaft '38 is journaled in a frame 39 spaced from the housing 10 along the pass line of the strip. On the opposite end of shaft 38 there is provided an adjustable crank pin '40 mounted in a crank wheel 41 and movable dia-metrically across the wheel from one side of the center to the other. A crank arm 42 is journaled at one end of the pin 40. The opposite end of the arm 42 is journaled in a carriage 43 fixed to spaced guide trunnions 44, beneath and parallel to the pass line. The guide trunnions '44 are slidably mounted for reciprocation in spaced journals 44' on frame 39. The carriage 43 is provided with a base plate 45 carrying threaded vertical guides 46. A lower shoe plate 47 is fixed to the guides 46 immediately below the pass line by holding nuts 47a and is provided with a nylon or like shoe 48 adapted to engage the bottom surface of a strip passing on the pass line. Side roller guides 49 are adjustably mounted in slots 50 in shoe plate 47 on either side of the shoe 48 to guide the strip over the shoe. An upper shoe plate 51 is movable on bushings 46a on guides 46 above the pass line and is provided with a shoe 52 adapted to engage the upper surface of a strip passing on the pass line immediately above shoe 48. The upper shoe plate is mounted on a piston rod '53 in an air cylinder 54 fixed to a frame 55 mounted on the guides 46 above the pass line and the upper shoe plate and spaced from the lower base plate 45 by the bushings 46a. The pressure in air cylinder 54 is adjusted to maintain a constant pressure on the shoe 52 such that it always holds the strip against shoe 48 with a pressure less than that of the shoes 28 and 32 so that movement of shoes 28 and 32 may under proper circumstances draw the strip through between shoes 52 and 48.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: A strip to be treated is passed through between shoes 52 and 4S and between shoes 28 and 32 and into the dies 17 and 19. Air cylinders 54 and 23 are adjusted so that shoes 52 and 48 constantly engage the strip with a pressure less than that of shoes 28 and 32. The shafts 13 and 14 are set in motion by the drive motor (not shown) thereby causing the guide or side frames 16 to begin to rotate on eccentrics 15 thereby moving top die 17 and lower die 19 into and out of engagement. Each time the frames 16 rotate the shoes 28 and 32 engage the strip and move it a distance equal to the diameter of the eccentric path of the side frame 16. If the crank pin 40 is set at the center of wheel 41 the shoes 52 and 48 will not move along the pass line and the strip movement will be entirely controlled by the shoes 28 and 32. If, however, the pin 40 is moved to one side of wheel 41 so that it has reached its maximum distance away from the housing when the shoes 28 and 32 have reached their most forward position with respect to the strip, then when shoes 28 and 32 release the strip, shoes 52 and 43 will feed the strip a distance equal to the throw of the frames 16 so that the feed to the press will be twice the diameter of the eccentricity of the frames 16. If on the other hand, crank pin 40 is moved to the opposite side of wheel 41 it will withdraw from the press a length equal to the eccentric stroke of the frames 16 during the time shoes 28 and 32 are out of engagement so that there will be no net feed to the press. Variations between these extremes will provide any desired length from zero to twice the diameter of the eccentric path of frames 16.

It is at once apparent that this invention provides a simple, effective and precise control and treatment of strip, and that small variations in length being treated may be obtained.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of this invention hereinabove, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising a first work member for acting on a strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path on one side of the path of strip travel, a guide extending generally transversely of the path of strip travel mounted to move with the first work member, a second work member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second work member to re ciprocate in the guide and move generally reciprocably in the direction of the path of strip travel and on the other side of the path of strip travel with respect to the first work member generally in unison with the first work member and to move substantially into the path of strip travel substantially simultaneously with the first work member to engage and act on the strip, first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is moved with said members to be advanced along the path of strip travel, crank means spaced from the guide, connections between the crank means and the guide whereby the crank means may be rotated by said guide, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and actuated by the crank means for reciprocatory motion along the path of strip travel and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip and adjusting means between the crank and said second gripper means adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip along the path of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

2. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising a first work member for acting on a strip or the like movable on a path, said member mounted to operate in a circular path a portion of which lies substantially in the path of strip travel, eccentric drive means actuating said first member to operate in said circular path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move eccentrically with the first member, a second work member for acting on the strip or the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, link means connecting the second work member to a pivot point spaced from and independent of the first work member causing the second work member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally reciprocably in the direction of the first mentioned path and on the other side of the path of strip travel with respect to the first work member generally in unison with the first work member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first work member to engage and act on the strip, first gripger means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is moved with said members to be advanced along the path of strip travel, crank means spaced from the guide, connections between the crank means and the guide whereby the crank means may be rotated by said guide, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and actuated by the crank means for reciproeatory motion along the path of strip travel and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip and adjusting means between the crank and said second gripper means adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip along the nth of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

3. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising an eccentrically driven floating frame surrounding a strip and the like movable along a path of travel, all points of which frame move in a circular path, a first work member for acting on the strip or the like, said first work member being on said frame on one side of the path of strip travel and adapted to pass on the first mentioned path during a portion of its movement with the frame, a second work member for acting on the strip reciprocably movable in said frame transverse to the path of travel of the strip and link means connecting the second work member to a pivot point spaced from and independent of the first work member causing the second work member to reciprocate 1n the frame and move generally reciprocably in the direction of the first mentioned path and on the other side of the path of strip travel with respect to the first work member generally in unison with the first work member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first work member to engage and act on the strip, first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is advanced with said member along the path of strip travel, crank means spaced from the floating frame, connections between the crank means and the frame whereby the crank means may be rotated by said frame through a circle spaced from and corresponding to the path of the frame, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip, connections from the crank to said second gripper means whereby the second gripper means is reciprocably moved along the path of strip travel and adjusting means in said connections from the crank to the second gripper means adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip along the path of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

4. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising a floating frame surrounding a strip and the like movable along a path of strip travel, rotary eccentric means causing the top and bottom of the frame to move in identical spaced apart circles on opposite sides of the path of strip travel, drive means driving the eccentric means, a first work member fixed on the frame adjacent the path of strip travel to operate in a circular path a portion of which lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a second work member movable reciprocably in guides in the frame on the opposite side of the path of strip travel from the first work member and transverse to the path of strip travel and connecting means holding the second work member spaced from and independent of the eccentric means, said connecting means causing the second work member to move in the guide means generally in the direction of the first mentioned path as the frame rotates to bring the strip between the first and second work members to engage a portion of the strip, first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is advanced with said member along the path of strip travel, crank means spaced from the floating frame, connections between the crank means and the frame whereby the crank means may be rotated by said frame through a circle spaced rom and corresponding to the path of the frame, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip, connections from the crank to said second gripper means whereby the second gripper means is reciprocably moved along the path of strip travel and adjusting means in said connections from the crank to the second gripper means adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip along the path of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

5. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising a floating frame surrounding a strip and the like movable along a path of strip travel, spaced rotary cam means acting on the frame to cause it to move in a circle whose radius is the length of throw of the eccentric, drive means driving the cam means, a first work member fixed to said frame on one side of 6 the path of strip travel, guide means on the frame on the side opposite the path of strip travel from the first work member and transverse to the path of strip travel, a second work member movable in said guide means, connecting means holding the second work member spaced adjacent the path of strip travel and on the other side of the path of strip travel with respect to the first work member whereby the second work member reciprocably follows a path generally parallel to the path of strip travel, said connecting means causing the second work member to move in the guide means generally in the direction of the first mentioned path as the frame rotates to bring the strip between the first and second work members first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is advanced with said member along the path of strip travel, crank means spaced from the floating frame, connections between the crank means and the frame whereby the crank means may be rotated by said frame through a circle spaced from and corresponding to the path of the frame, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip, connections from the crank to said second gripper means whereby the second gripper means is reciprocably moved along the path of strip travel and adjusting means in said connections from the crank to the second gripper means adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip along the path of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

6. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip 'and the like comprising a first work member for acting on a strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path on one side of the path of strip travel, a guide extending generally transversely of the path of strip travel mounted to move with the first work member, a second work member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second work member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally reciprocably in the direction of the path of strip travel and on the other side of the path of strip travel with respect to the first work member generally in unison with the first work member and to move substantially into the path of strip travel substantially simultaneously with the first work member to engage and act on the strip, first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is moved with said members to be advanced along the path of strip travel, said first gripper means including a resiliently mounted gripper shoe on one of said work members urged transversely to the path of strip travel under substantially constant pressure, crank means spaced from the guide, connections between the crank means and the guide whereby the crank means may be rotated by said guide, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and actuated by the crank means for reciprocatory motion along the path of strip travel and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip and adjusting means between the crank and said second gripper means adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip along the path of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

7. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising a first work member for acting on a strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path on one side of the path of strip travel, a guide extending generally transversely of the path of strip travel mounted to move with the first work member, a second work member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second work member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally reciprocably in the direction of the path of strip travel and on the other side of the path of strip travel with respect to the first work member generally in unison with the first work member and to move substantially into the path of strip travel substantially simultaneously with the first work member to engage and act on the strip, first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is moved with said members to be advanced along the path of strip travel, crank means spaced from the guide, connections between the crank means and the guide whereby the crank means may be rotated by said guide, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and actuated by the crank means for reciprocatory motion along the path of strip travel and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip, said second gripper means including a resiliently mounted gripper shoe urged transversely to the path of strip travel and in constant contact with the strip, said shoe on the second gripper means being urged transversely to the path of strip travel under a substantially constant pressure less than the pressure on the shoe of the first gripper means, and adjusting means between the crank and said second gripper means adapted to vary the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip along the path of strip travel to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

8. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising a first work member for acting on a strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path on one side of the path of strip travel, a guide extending generally transversely of the path of strip travel mounted to move with the first work member, a second work member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second work member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally reciprocably in the direction of the path of strip travel and on the other side of the path of strip travel with respect to the first work member generally in unison with the first work member and to move substantially into the path of strip travel substantially simultaneously with the first work member to engage and act on the strip, first gripper means on each of the first and second work members adapted to engage a portion of the strip at either side thereof and at a position which is upstream with respect to the work members during a fixed portion of the circular path of the first member whereby the strip is moved with said members to be advanced along the path of strip travel, frame means spaced from the guide along the path passes the frame means before reaching the work members, first crank means on the frame, connections between the first crank means and the guide whereby the first crank means may be rotated by said guide, a second crank means on the frame driven by said first crank means, second gripper means positioned upstream from the first gripper means and on the frame movable reciprocably thereon along the path of strip travel and resiliently gripping the strip at all times with a gripping force less than that of the first gripper means so as to be overridden by said first gripper means when said first gripper means is in gripping engagement with the strip and adjustable connections between the second gripper means and the second crank means adapted to vary the throw of the second crank means and thereby the reciprocatory motion of the second gripper means along the path of strip travel from a position adapted to advance the strip to a position adapted to retract strip along the path of strip travel when the first gripper means is disengaged from the strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,095 Pullan Dec. 6, 1932 1,945,992 Boblett Feb. 6, 1934 2,250,530 Hafecost July 29, 1941 2,336,957 Pierce Dec. 14, 1943 2,467,740 Haller Apr. 19, 1949 2,757,731 Musley Aug. 7, 1956 2,780,287 Mueller Feb. 5, 1957 2,985,352 Kuhlmann May 23, 1961 of strip travel whereby the strip 

